Medical devices maker Medtronic is ramping up its Galway factory as seeks to more than double its capacity to manufacture and supply ventilators, in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. In the company’s Galway ventilator manufacturing facility, there are currently over 250 employees dedicated to ventilator manufacturing and the company plan to more than double that number. Staff are being transferred from other Medtronic sites and the company expects to be able to more than double manufacturing capacity for ventilators. In Galway Medtronic manufactures the Puritan Bennett™ 980 (PB 980) and Puritan Bennett™ 840 (PB 840) ventilators which are primarily designed for critically ill patients in high acuity setting, including treating covid-19 patients. The EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre will manage the distribution of the equipment to ensure it goes where it is needed most.

Source: Irish Independent March 19, 2020 20:26 UTC